Dispensing closure for a container

ABSTRACT

A dispensing closure for a container ( 1 ) having a neck ( 3 ) with an open end ( 4 ) comprises a closure cap ( 7 ) adapted to be attached to the neck to close the container and a dispensing spout ( 8 ) formed with a dispensing passage ( 13 ) having an inlet opening ( 14 ) at one end and an outlet opening ( 15 ) at the other end. The spout ( 8 ) is mounted on the closure cap ( 7 ) for limited sliding movement between a closed position in which the dispensing passage ( 13 ) is isolated from the interior of the container and an open position in which the dispensing passage is in communication with the interior of the container. The movement of the spout from its closed to its open position follows a part circular path.

[0001] The invention relates to a dispensing closure for a container and in particular to a dispensing closure which includes a closure cap and a dispensing spout which can slide on the cap from a closed position to an open position.

[0002] In known closures of this type, the spout slides along a linear path. The invention provides an improved closure in which the spout slides along a part circular path.

[0003] Accordingly, the invention provides a closure cap for a container, having a dispensing spout formed with a dispensing passage having an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the other end, the spout being mounted on the closure cap for limited sliding movement between a closed position in which the dispensing passage is isolated from the interior of the container and an open position in which the dispensing passage is in communication with the interior of the container, characterised in that the movement of the spout from its closed position to its open position follows an at least part circular path.

[0004] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a squeezable container;

[0006]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a squeezable container fitted with a closure cap;

[0007]FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-section through a closure cap taken on the line III-III of FIG. 2 with the spout of the closure cap in the closed position;

[0008]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the spout in the open position;

[0009]FIG. 5 is a vertical section through a modified closure cap taken on the line III-III in FIG. 2;

[0010]FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-section through the modified closure cap taken on the line V-V in FIG. 2;

[0011]FIG. 7 is a vertical section through the modified closure cap of FIG. 5 taken on the line III-III of FIG. 2 with the spout detached therefrom;

[0012]FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-section through a spout taken on the line III-III of FIG. 2; and

[0013]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a spout from underneath.

[0014] The drawings show two slight variations of a closure cap. In the first, the cap is adapted to fit onto the neck of a container having a screw thread whereas the second modified cap is adapted to be a snap fit onto the neck of a container.

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a squeezable container 1 of the type formed by a tube which is flattened at one end and formed with a shoulder 2 at the other end and a neck 3 with an open end 4. As shown, the neck is formed with a screw thread 6 although the neck may alternatively be formed to receive a closure cap in a snap fit. FIG. 2 shows the container when fitted with a closure cap 7 having a sliding spout 8.

[0016] The closure cap is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 and includes an end wall 9 adapted to lie over the open end 4 of the container neck and an inner cylindrical skirt 10 depending from the end wall 9 and adapted to surround the neck 3. In this embodiment, the skirt 10 is formed with an internal screw thread 11 which co-operates with the thread 6 on the neck to secure the closure cap 7 to the container 1. The end wall 9 is formed with an aperture 12.

[0017] The spout 8 is mounted on the closure cap for limited sliding movement along a part circular path between a closed position shown in FIG. 3 and an open position shown in FIG. 4.

[0018] The spout is formed with a dispensing passage 13 having an inlet opening 14 at one end and an outlet opening 15 at the other end. The dispensing passage is isolated from the interior of the container when the spout is in the closed position of FIG. 1 and communicates with the interior of the container through the aperture 12 when the spout is in its open position shown in FIG. 2.

[0019] The upper surface of the end wall 9 forms part of a curved surface 16 on which the spout slides when moving between its opn and closed positions. The surface 16 is preferably part spherical as shown. The inlet opening 14 of the dispensing passage 13 is surrounded by a first sealing bead 17 which bears on the spherical surface 16 and surrounds the aperture 12 when the spout is in the open position o FIG. 4. In this position, the outlet opening 15 is exposed so that fluids in the container can be dispensed through the spout 8.

[0020] In the closed position of the spout, the first sealing bead bears on the surface 16 to close the inlet opening 14. In this position the outlet opening 15 also lies on the spherical surface and is closed thereby. A second sealing bead 18 surrounds a blind bore 19 formed on the spout. The second sealing bead 18 also bears on the surface 16 and surrounds the aperture 12 to close it off when the spout is in the closed position. This arrangement of the spherical surface 16, the beads 17, 18 and the outlet opening 15 prevent any leakage of fluids when the spout is in the closed position.

[0021] The closure cap is also formed with an outer cylindrical skirt 20 which is co-axial with the inner skirt 10 which it surrounds. The cap has a generally planar upper wall 21 which is slightly inclined to the horizontal when the cap is in the upright position shown in the Figures. The spout has an upper wall 22 which lies co-planar with the upper wall 21 of the closure cap when the spout is in the closed position.

[0022] Operation of the spout to move it from its closed position to its open position merely requires the user to press on a shoulder 23 formed on the spout at its end opposite the outlet opening 15. This causes the spout to slide across the closure cap along a part circular path defined by the part spherical surface 16. Since the centre of the part circular path is located on the axis of the closure cap, the shoulder 23 moves radially inwardly and downwardly whilst the outlet opening 15 moves radially outwardly and upwardly. Thus the outlet opening moves from a position in which it is closed off by the surface 16 to a dispensing position where it stands clear of the closure cap. One benefit of the curved path of motion of the spout is that it enables the outlet opening 15 to be closed off by the spherical surface in the closed position of the spout. As a result, the outlet opening is kept clean between uses. Another benefit of this motion is that it enables the outlet opening 15 to stand clear of the cap in the open position so that product from the container may be wiped directly onto the user's hand. The flat aspect of the outlet opening also aids this.

[0023] The arcuate surface of the cap against which the spout slides is indented towards the container. This configuration allows the spout to lie flat in the closed position and extend away from the container in the open position to allow easy dispensing of product.

[0024] A window 25 is formed in the upper wall 22 of the spout 8 and a tamper evidencing deformable element 26 appears in the window before the spout has been first operated (FIG. 3). The element 26 is deformed to the position shown in FIG. 4 during the first operation of the spout so that it no longer appears in the window. In another embodiment (not shown) a detachable tamper evidencing tab is formed on the back surface of the spout and is broken off when the spout is first actuated.

[0025] A modified closure cap is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. This closure cap is fundamentally the same as the cap of FIGS. 3 and 4 but is adapted to be a snap fit onto a container neck. The tamper evidencing element is not shown in the modified closure cap.

[0026]FIG. 5 shows two detents 30, 31 formed on the closure cap which operate to locate the spout positively in its closed and open positions respectively.

[0027] As can be seen best from FIGS. 6 and 9, the spout is held onto the closure cap by means of hooks 32 formed on depending walls 33 of the spout. The hooks 32 pass through elongate openings 34 in the closure cap. The openings 34 being longer than than the hooks 32 to accommodate the sliding movement of the spout. As can be seen best from FIG. 9, the side edges 35 and front edge 36 of the spout lie on a spherical surface which bears on the spherical surface 16. The hooks are snapped into the openings 34 with the spout under a little tension so that the sealing beads are pressed firmly against the spherical surface 16.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the part spherical surface 16 is replaced with a part cylindrical surface, the axis of the part cylindrical surface lying perpendicular to the plain of the sectional view of FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0029] One benefit of the surface 16 being spherical, is that this is reflected in the underside surface of the end wall 9 also being spherical. This leads to a good seal being formed with the open end of the container.

[0030] It is preferred that the container cap and spout are made of different materials. In particular polypropylene homo/copolymer is preferred for the container cap and polyethylene for the spout. This combination improves both sealing and ergonomics—the softer spout being more easily gripped to retract during a single-handed operation where the container is picked up, the spout pushed, the container squeezed and the spout retracted using one hand. 

1. A closure cap 7 for a container 1, having a dispensing spout 8 formed with a dispensing passage 13 having an inlet opening 14 at one end and an outlet opening 15 at the other end, the spout being mounted on the closure cap for limited sliding movement between a closed position in which the dispensing passage is isolated from the interior of the container and an open position in which the dispensing passage is in communication with the interior of the container, characterised in that the movement of the spout from its closed position to its open position follows an at least part cirucular path.
 2. A closure cap 7 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure cap includes an end wall 9 adapted to lie over the open end of the container and an inner cylindrical skirt 10 depending from the end wall and adapted to surround the opening of the container and co-operate therewith to secure the closure cap to the container; wherein the end wall is formed with an aperture 12 which communicates with the dispensing passage 13 when the spout 8 is in the open position and which is closed off by the spout when the spout is in the closed position.
 3. A closure cap 7 for a container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the end wall 9 forms part of a curved surface 16 on which the spout 8 slides when moving between its open and closed positions and wherein the outlet opening 15 of the dispensing passage is closed by the curved surface when the spout is in the closed position.
 4. A closure cap 7 for a container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the inlet opening 14 of the dispensing passage 13 is surrounded by a first sealing bead 17 which bears on the curved surface 16 and wherein the sealing bead surrounds the aperture 12 in the end wall 9 when the spout 8 is in the open position.
 5. A closure cap 7 for a container as claimed in claim 4, wherein a second sealing bead 18 surrounds a blind bore 19 formed on the spout 8 and wherein the second sealing bead surrounds the aperture 12 in the end wall 9 when the spout is in the closed position.
 6. A closure cap 7 for a container as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the upper surface 16 of the end wall 9 is part cylindrical.
 7. A closure cap 7 for a container as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the upper surface 16 of the end wall 9 is part spherical.
 8. A closure cap 7 as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spout 8 is held onto the closure cap 7 by means of hooks 32 formed on the spout which pass through and slide along elongate openings 34 formed on the closure cap.
 9. A closure cap 7 for a container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the closure cap 7 further comprises an outer cylindrical skirt 20 coaxial with and surrounding the inner skirt 10 and a generally planar upper wall 21; and wherein the spout 8 has an upper wall 22 which lies co-planar with the upper wall 21 of the closure cap when the spout is in the closed position.
 10. A closure cap 7 for a container as claimed in claim 9, wherein a window 25 is formed in the upper wall of the spout 8 and wherein a tamper evidencing deformable element 26 appears in the window before the spout has been first operated and is deformed during the first operation of the spout so that it no longer appears in the window. 